St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-01-06
6l2,545. 02
A e IT, SUM E.
The Governor Points with Pride at
what Has Been Done Durin. His
gACUmhaucV.

EnCUmbeUCy.
During the five years it has been my privi-
le2e to occupy the executive office Minnesota
has experienced development unprecedented
in her history, and hardly equaled by that of
any other community of the country for a
like period of time. Her growth in popua-
! ton has been nearly 60 per cent, and her as
| sessed real and personal estate has increased
from S271, S,96l in 1881 to S45S, 424,77 in
1886. The industries and business interests
| of her people have kept pace in their devel-
| opment with this growth in population and
wealth, and the foundations have been
broadened and strengthened for that great
ness of empire which is the abunoant prom
Use of our future destiny. A brief reference
| to the measures and policy that have specially
| characterized the administration of her pub
| lie interests during this period may not be
garded out of place in this connection.
| So rapid Il growth has necessarily involved
largely increased expenditures in the MAIN
! ten ance of the several departments of the
| S"ste government and in the enlargement and
support of her state institutions. EXtraordi-
nary expenditures also have been OccasiOned
| by tue necessity of replacing public Struc-
lures destroyed by fire, notably the state
capitol, the state prison and the first hospital
for the insane. Expenditures for permanent
public improvements the past five years
have exceeded in the aggregate 81 800, 900.
The interest also upon the railroad adju
ment bonds which represent our present
state debt first became burden upon the
treasury in 1882. But Notwithstanding these
largely increased demands upon the state
treasury they have been promptly met and
the public debt considerably reduced without
adding 20 the burdens of the people in the
way Of taxation; in fact there has been paid
as taxes to the state less than was paid dur
ing either of the two periods OF five years
Immediately precedi ng. The average for the
FIVE years ending with 1876 was S472,9S6.21
per anuum, for the five years ending with
1881 S473. 87S.5S and for the five years
ending with 1885 S44S, s1797. This, in view of
the enormously increased assessed valuation
of the state, would further show largely
diminished rate of taxation. The average
rate Tor the first period named was 3.2S-100
mills. This showing has been made possible
mainly by the largely augmented revenues
of the state from other sources, especially
receipts from railroad and insurance compa-
MES. The trust funds have been increased
from S6.27S,9ll.72 in 1851 to 81, ,637 IA in
1885. These additions the proceeds Of
the sale of land and pine stumpage belonging
to the several funds except Sl42, sos IL, which
has been realized as profit on the sale and eX-
change of securities held by these funds.
Recent investment of these funds has been
in the bonds of the state of Tennessee, which
, have largely increased in value since their
purchase, and if sold at the price at which
the last purchase was made a further profit
of Sl94, SO would be realized.
AS an agency in the line of public reform
and retrenchment in public expenses the
state board of correction and charities was
organized in 1882. Its efficiency in this SER
vice has been shown in the improved methods
adopted through its instrumentality in many
the counties in the state, in the admins
tration of their local institutions and the de-
crease in cost of maintaining their charitable
and penal dependents. The board has also
instituted u uniform system of accounting,
under which all expenditures at our state in
situations are spread before the public in an
ineligible form
The change from annual to biennial cleo
tons was made i'll 1883. AS measure in the
interest of public economy and reform this
change must be re garded as q most salutary
one.
The present complete sanitary organization
of the state, and its effective measures Tor
the protection of the public health, to3etner
with its ample provision for the management
and control of diseases among animals, are
mainly the results of the legislation or ISSS,
supplemented by the vigorous and efficient
action of the state board of health NO state
is now better equipped than our own to4deal
with emergencies growing out or epldem1cS
or infectious diseases
AS great pub ic charity and an agency OF
moral reform the state school for dependent
and neglected children, recently opened al
Owatonna, will command place alongside
the most worthy institutions of the state. Its
work in reclaimin g from the communicating
influences of ignorance and vice these inno-
cent dependents will be felt in future years
in saving to the citizenship of our state thou
sands who might otherwise contribute to
swell the population of her penal institutions.
In 1881 the state militia was represented by
a few independent companies scattered,
neglected and poorly organized and equipped.
From that nucleus has been developed our
present effective organization of national
guards, as compact, we'll disciplined and re-
liable body OF citizen soldiers, in proportion